Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary, Kabagambe Kaliisa at the launch of the licensing round in Kampala on 24 February 2015. (Photo: F. Nalubega)

The Ugandan government has extended the date of receiving applications for firms interested in securing oil exploration licenses in the Albertine Graben by a period of one month.

According to a statement signed by the Energy Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kabagambe Kaliisa, interested parties now have up to the end of next month to submit their applications. “All interested parties are hereby informed that the closing date for receipt of applications for qualification has been extended from 29th May to 30th June 2015,” reads the statement in part.

The extension is meant to allow the interested firms more time to prepare their applications.

The statement also lays out a road map for Uganda’s first competitive licensing round that will culminate in issuance of exploration licenses for six blocks in the oil-rich Albertine Region.

The applications will be evaluated throughout the month of July and successful applicants announced on 10th August. Successful firms will then be given three months to prepare and submit proposals which will be evaluated for a period of one month spread out between November and December.